Fire extinguisher container



July 12 1932- c. H. MElGs FRE EXTINGUISHER CONTAINER Filed Nov. 1,1, V1929 al., $454rlarllndlflllnrlllll rllldlllllll! v u Q UVE/7 F( 'farmed July 12, 1932 UNITED STATES ra'riazlafiori-ica CHARLES H. MEIGS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T IDU-GAS FIRE E'XTINGUISHEB CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE FIRE EXTINGUISHER CONTAINER .Application flied November 11, 1929. Serial No. 406,217.

This invention relates to a fire extinguisher and more particularly to a fire extingulsher container of the type using a dryl chemical and a gas under pressure for delivering the chemical to the point of conflagration.

It has heretofore been proposed in fire-extinguishers of this type to provide an external gas cylinder and a conduit connecting the gas cylinder with the dry chemical receptacle,

1c but in small size installations such an arrangement is cumbersome and awkward to handle. v

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a fire extinguisher including a re- :n ceptacle for the dry chemical and means for mounting the gas cylinder Within the dry chemicalreceptacle in such a manner that handling of the apparatus is greatly facilitated.

It is a further importantv object of this invention to provide an improved construction of fire extinguisher of the portable type.

Other and further important objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectonal view of a. lire extinguisher embodying the principles of my invention, with parts in elevation.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line II--II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line III-III of Figure 1.

As shown on the drawing:

J5 The reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole a receptacle for containing the dry powder or chemical used for extinguishing the fire. Said receptacle 1 comprises a cylindrical body portion 2 preferably formed of copper in two sections, a section 3 including a hopper shaped bottom portion 4 and a cylindrical section 5 welded or otherwise secured to the section 3, as at 6. The cylindrical lower portion 5 forms a continuation of the cylindrical wall of the section 3 and is provided with a lower beaded edge 7 upon which the device rests when placed upon the ground, floor, or other supporting surface. The hopper shaped bottom portion 4 terminates within the cylindrical section 5 in a, restricted opening 8 which is connected by means of an elbow 9 with a pipe 10 extending through the side wall of the section 5. The extended end of the pipe 10 is adapted to be connected in any suitable manner with a flexible hose (not shown) to a valve controlled nozzle through ivvhich the powder is delivered against the The body section 3 is provided at its upper end with an opening 11 in which is secured a sleeve 12 forming the filling spout. A well 13 is supported within the receptacle 1 from the sleeve 12. For this purpose, the upper end of said well 13 is provided with a flanged ring 15 adapted to lit within the opening of the sleeve 12 with its flanged portion 16 resting upon the upper edge of said sleeve 12. Preferably, a gasket 17 is disposed between the adjacent edges of the flanged portion 16 and the sleeve 12. In order to insure the correct positioning of the well within the sleeve 12 for a purpose that will later appear, the ring 15 lis provided with a notch 18 and the sleeve 12 with a cooperating lug 19. A bifurcated member 20 is hingedly connected as at 21 to the upper surface of said ring 15.

A container or cylinder 22 holding a gas under pressure or in a liquefied state is adapted to be positioned within the well 13. Said gas cylinder 22 is provided with a valve 23 of standard construction and a manually operable valve handle or wheel 24. Said valve 23 suitably comprises a T-itting connected at its lower end by means of a threaded nipple 44 to the cylinder 22 and providing a side 'discharge 25 for connection by means of a coupling 26 to a flexible conduit 27. The vertical portion of the T-itting 23 is provided with a squared portion 28 adapted to lie within and be engaged by the bifurcated ends of the member 20, whereby turning of the cylinder 22 and fitting 23 is revented when the valve handle 24 is turne In order .to prevent injury to the valve handle 24 and fitting housing the valve 23, a r1ng 30 is provided as a guard therefor. Said rlng 30 is carried by a sleeve member 31 internally threaded as at 32 for receiving the upper threaded end of the sleeve 12 and provided with an inturned shoulder 33 for overlying the flanged ring 16 on the upper end of the well 13. Accordingly, when the sleeve member 31 is screwed down into place, a gas tight joint is formed between the upper edge ofthe sleeve 12, the gasket 17 and the ring 16 on the well 13.

A gas tube 34 extends through the upper wall of the receptacle 1 and is secured therem as at 35, with its lower open end 36 proJecting down into the hopper shaped bottom portion 4. Said end 36 is offset as at 37 and curved as at 38 to conform with the curvature of the conical shaped bottom portion 4 so as to deliver the gas substantially tangentially with a downward inclination, whereby a swirling current is created that serves to carry the dry chemical out through the bottom spout 8. A nipple 39 and coupling 40 are connected to the upper outer end of the tube 34 and also to the fiexible hose 27.

.A handle 46 is secured to the wall of the receptacle 1 near the top thereof on the opposite side from the coupling 40. Said handle 46 is adapted to be used in suspending the fire extinguisher from a wall or other supporting surface, or may be ittedw'ith a strap (not shown) when the extingulsher is to be carried from the shoulder.

In operation, the receptacle 1 is first charged with a suitable fire extinguishing powder through the, charging opening provided by the sleeve 12. The well 13 is then inserted into place by engaging the lug 19 within the groove 18 of the well ring 15. The gas cylinder 22, containing the gas under high pressure or in a liquefied form, is then placed within the well 13 and the bifurcated member 20 swung into place to engage the squared portion 28 of the valve fitting 23. The cap or sleeve member 31 is then screwed down onto the sleeve 12 until a gas tight joint is formed, after which the fiexible tube 27 is connected through the coupling 26 to the valve fitting 23.

When the fire enxtiguisher is to be brought into service, the operator carries the extinguisher as close as possible to the fire and then, while directing the delivery nozzle toward the burning object, gradually opens the valve 23 by turning the handle 24 in the appropriate direction. The gas discharged through the valve 23 flows through the fiexible tube 27 into the tube 34 and is delivered through its open end 36 in a swirling current that picks up and carries with it the dry chemical. The mixture of gas and chemical is then delivered through the spout 8, elbow 9 and nipple 10 through the flexible hose and delivery nozzle against the fire in the same manner as inthe case of the usual hand extinguishers known in the art. Preferably, the gas is delivered from the fire extinguisher at a pressure of between 100 and 200 lbs. per sq. in. The stream of gas containing the dry fire extinguishing powder is thus delivered against t e burning object at a high velocity and affords a protective screen for the operator against the heat of the fire.

When a liquefied gas, such as carbon dioxide, is employed, the well 13 serves a double purpose, acting both as a seal for the container portion proper and also to provide a dead air space between the cylinder 22 and said well 13 so that there will be little tendency for frost to form upon that wall of the well 13 which is in contact with the powder. If the wall of the cylinder 22 were to be in direct contact with the powder, there would be a tendency for condensation to take place within the mass of the powder should there be any moisture within the container. This might result in a local freezing or sticking of the powder to the walls of the container or gas cylinder, but all of this is prevented by employing the well 13. Furthermore, it is obvious that the construction shown permits the replacement of an exhausted gas cylinder by a new cylinder with a minimum expenditure of time and labor.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent 'granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A fire extinguisher, comprising a dry powder receptacle having a discharge opening and a filling opening, a well within said filling opening having a fianged upper edge overlying the edge of said opening, a asket between said adjacent edges, a flange ring threaded to said container and so arranged that the fiange thereof clamps said edges together with the gasket therebetween, a gas cylinder supported in said well, an exposed valve for said cylinder connected thereto by a fitting having a squared portion, a bifurcated member hinged to the flange of said well and adapted to engage the squared portion of said fitting to prevent the cylinder from turning as the valve is operated, and means for conducting gas from said valve into said receptacle to effect the discharge of the powder.

2. A fire extinguisher comprising a dry powder receptacle having a discharge opening and a filling opening, a well member relll movably inserted in said receptacle and supported thereon sealing the llin opening, a gas cylinder in said well mem er, a valve body in threaded connectionv with said cylinder, said valve body including a valve stem and a wheel, means to restraln said valve body against turning when the valve wheel is turned, said means comprising a hinged member supported on said receptacle in engagement with said valve body.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, Cook County,

Illinois.

CHARLES H. MEIGS. 

